Senior Travel Advisor

Kendrick Recruitment; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury lodge in Cape Town is seeking a Senior Travel Advisor to craft bespoke itineraries for discerning clients. The role requires extensive experience in luxury travel, exceptional communication skills, and in-depth knowledge of South Africa's safari regions. Candidates must excel in building client relationships, managing bookings, and delivering outstanding service. This is a full-time, live-out position with a negotiable salary based on experience, ideal for those passionate about creating unforgettable experiences.

Qualifications

• 5 years experience in luxury travel or high-end DMC operations.
• Fluent in English with excellent communication skills.
• In-depth knowledge of South Africa's safari regions.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain long-term guest relationships.
• Design personalised itineraries for high-end clients.
• Oversee the client journey from enquiry to return home.

Skills

Luxury travel experience

Communication skills

Detail-oriented

Sales ability

Knowledge of South Africa's safari regions

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Senior Travel Advisor Luxury Lodge Cape Town

Kendrick Recruitment is seeking an experienced and professional Senior Travel Advisor to join a luxury lodge in Cape Town. This role is ideal for a skilled travel professional who excels in designing personalised itineraries nurturing client relationships and delivering exceptional service to high‑end clientele.

Key Responsibilities

Relationship Building & Trade Engagement

• Build and maintain long‑term relationships with guests, luxury travel advisors and DMC partners across key global markets
• Represent the lodge with professionalism and warmth, becoming a trusted extension of partner relationships
• Interpret client and advisor preferences intuitively, adapting communication style as needed
• Manage sensitive requests and high‑pressure situations with maturity and composure

Tailored Itinerary Design

• Design highly personalised multi‑destination itineraries across Africa incorporating private transfers, regional flights, boutique hotels, guided experiences and hidden gems
• Ensure every journey is executed with precision, creativity and attention to detail
• Anticipate challenges proactively and implement solutions to maintain service excellence

Sales & Revenue

• Convert enquiries into confirmed bookings through expert guidance and responsiveness
• Drive ancillary revenue through thoughtful upselling of extensions, flights and bespoke experiences
• Manage margins, allocations and inventory in collaboration with reservations and revenue teams
• Understand that exceptional service is a driver of profitability

Coordination & Execution

• Oversee the entire client journey from enquiry to return home
• Liaise with internal lodge teams, operations, logistics and guest services to ensure seamless delivery
• Remain flexible and responsive across multiple time zones and during travel
• Ensure all itinerary elements are documented, confirmed and executed accurately

Product Mastery & Brand Representation

• Maintain expert knowledge of the lodge and partner products
• Conduct site inspections and provide insights to support product and sales strategies
• Represent the lodge at luxury travel events, training sessions and webinars
• Share knowledge within the team, modelling values of empathy, excellence and professionalism

Requirements

• 5 years experience in luxury travel safari sales or high‑end DMC operations
• Warm, engaging and authentic communicator with the ability to build trust
• Mature, flexible and calm approach to working hours and service demands
• Exceptional attention to detail in itinerary design and execution
• Commercially astute, recognising that care drives conversion
• In‑depth knowledge of South Africa's safari regions, Cape Town and the Winelands
• Fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient in travel and CRM systems as well as Microsoft Office
• Passionate about Africa conservation and meaningful hospitality
• Love for nature, people and creating memorable experiences

Package

• Salary: Negotiable depending on experience
• Full‑time live‑out position

This role is ideal for a seasoned travel professional who thrives in a luxury hospitality environment and is dedicated to creating personalised world‑class experiences for discerning clients.